Mowing-machine



(No Model.) 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. A. MORGAN, Jr.

MOWING MACHINE Patented Mar. 30,- 1886.

WI 1111mm WWW! WITNESSES (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2..

' W A. MORGAN, Jr.

MOWING MACHINE.

No. 339,068. Patented Mar. 30, 1886.

.Attorney N, FETERSv Fhmn'Lilhographen washin nm. D4 C an; we

NTTED STATES PATENT Orrrcnt \VILLIAM A. MORGAN, JR, OF CAMBRIA, IO\VA.

MOWING-MACHINE.

: EZPECIETCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339,068, dated Mai-ch30, 1886.

Application filed July 23, 1885. Serial No.172,-l50. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, \VILLTAM A. MORGAN, J r., a citizen ofthe United States ofAmerica, residing at Cambria, in the county of Wayne and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mowing Machines; andIdo hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in mowing-machines, the object of my invention being to providea machine of this class with a main frame which is simple in construction, the main portion of said frame being a single casting.

My invention consists in the construction and combination of the parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, which illus trate my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a rear view showing parts of the casing broken away so as to better illustrate the operating mechanism, and Fig. 3 is a detail view of the mechanism for throwing the cutter-bar into and out of gear. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view.

A represents the main frame of my improved inowing-machine,which main frame consists of a transverse portion, A, through which passes the axle B. From a point near the center of this main frame extends a projecting portion, A, through which passes the shaft 0 for operating the cutter-bar. A rearwardlyprojecting portion, A, is also formed integral with the main frame, so as to provide a rigid bearing for the connectingshaft D. In addition to these principal portions of the main frame supplemental devices and attachments are formed integral therewith, as will be hereinafter specified.

The main portions of the frame are constructed and located at such points that they will counterbalance each other and the attachments of the machine, so that equal weight will be carried by each of the driving-wheels, and they will exert equal power in driving the cutterbar, and also obviate the tendency of a side draft.

The main axle B extends through the portion A of the casting A, and has attached rigidly thereto a ratchet-wheel, u, with which engage spring-pawls a, which are secured to the inner side of the adjacent supporting and driving wheel. A large cog wheel, l) is mounted on the side adjacent to the otherend of the portion A, and said cog-wheel has formed integral therewith a side projecting portion, I), to which the ratchet-wheel b" is securely attached, these parts bein ri idly fixed upon the axle B. The ratchetavh eel 5" engages with pawls I)", attached to the driving-wheel adjacent thereto. The main e0 wheel I) rotates in a casing, B, which is rigidly attached to the end of the portion A of the frame and to the side of the frame A, and this casing B has a horizontally-projectinop0. riphcry, and on its outer side a depei idin flange, which extends nearly to the portiofi b of the coguvheel. At the rear portion of the cog-wheel this casing B is extended so as to cover the pinion d on the outer end of the shaft 1). The rear end of the portion A of the frame is cut away at the bearing for the shaft 1), and above this portion a top plate a, is secured by means of bolts, under which ,plate washers are placed, so that said plate can be screwed down to take up the wear of the bearing caused by the rapid rotation of the shaft 1). To the other end of the shaft D is secured a large beveled wheel, D, which is covered on one side and top by a casing, E which is cutaway at a point opposite the part A of the frame, and said casing is ri idly attached and braced to the frame, so thzit it will have sufficient rigidity to support a coverin plate, 6, and a slotted plate, 0, through whid h a lever for throwing the machineinto and out of gear is pivoted, said lever being pivotally attached to the lower side of the casin E. The central projecting portion,A,of the gasting is centrally below the plane of the transverse portion A, and through said portion A below the axle B, extends the shaft 0.

The shaft 0 has attached loosely thereto a beveled pinion, c, which rotatesloosely thereon,thc outer face of said pinionhaving formed thereon the portion 0 of the clutch F, the opposite portion, 0, of the clutch moving on a IOC ' spline and being held in contact by a spiral spring which encircles the end of the shaft. The member 0 of the clutch is thrown out of engagement'by means of a lever, G, which is pivoted to thei lower portion of the casing E, and extends upwardly through the plate 6, which is notched, as shown at c, Fig. 1, for engagement therewith, and is held in engagement by a spring, g,whieh exerts a side pressure against one edge of the slot in the plate, so as to hold the projecting portion or nut on the lever in engagement with the notches formed therein. The lever G lies at an intermediate point between its ends in a groove formed in the sliding portion of the clutch.

The forward end of the shaft 0 has attached thereto a wrist-wheel, H, from which projects the wrist-pin h, to which the pitman-head is attached. Adjacent to the end of this shaft 0, near the wrist-wheel H, the portion A of the frame A is cut away,and a plate, 1', covers the hearing, so that it can be taken up by tightening the bolts which fasten the platei in place.

, it will be noticed that no matter how great By the construction hereinbefore described I the strain upon the frame may be the gearwheels and their shafts cannot get out of line,

' and broad bearings are provided, so that there will be but little wear upon the parts.

' The frame A is provided at suitable points with openings 0', for lubricating the shafts,

,which openings have upwardly-projecting rims 6 and hinged covers 6. The portion 'A of the frame has a depression formed therein, which lightens this portion of the frame, said depression being provided with a hinged cover, so that the same may be utilized as a tool-box.

7 to one side of the shaft 0, said seat being supported by the curved spring-standard i, the lower end of which enters a slotted projecting portion, j, which is formed integral with the frame. This seat is located so that the weight of the driver will be to the rear of the transverse portion A of the frame, and so that the driver can easily reach and operate the levers.

The portion A of the main frame has projecting therefrom a member, -A, which has a v vertical keeper, L, formed integral therewith, between the vertical side portions of which keeper extends the pole M, which is pivotally connected between the projecting brackets which are formed on the main portion A of the frame. The upper portion of the keeper Lhas an upwardly-projecting lug, to which are pivotally connected the links n,which are connected at their opposite ends to the front end of the lever N. The lever N is also pivotally attached to a rack-plate, O, which is attached to the pole M in the rear of the portion A of the casting. This lever N is for the purpose of adjusting vertically the angle of the draftpole. The brace-rod M extends from one side of the pole and is curved rearwardly, as shown, and is pivotally connected to the projecting ears 0 of a bracket, which is formed 011 the front edge of the main frame.

To the outer side of the portion A of the frame, adjacent to the keeper L, is formed a rearwardly-projecting portion, 1?, the upper edge of which is curved and provided with rack-teeth, with which the catch of the lever R engages, the lower portion of said lever be ing provided with arecessed cam-face, T, which is pivotally attached to the portion P, and within said recessed cam a cord or chain, r, is secured, which is attached to the brace-rod s of thepivoted arm S, to which the finger-bar is attached. The arm S is pivotally secured in front of the portion A of the main frame, and to theside of the projecting portion a, and said arm S is provided with a forwardlycurved and laterally-projecting brace-arm, S,

- to the ends of which arm is pivotally attached the finger'bar T.

The knifebar 1. reciprocates in the usual manner, and is operated through the medium of the pitman-rod S, which is attached to the wrist-wheel H. The inner support of the finger-bar is provided with the front wheel, a, rear of which are formed upwardly-projecting ears, between which the brace-bar S is pivoted.

On the rear of the knife-bar similar earsproject, between which the arm S is secured, a shoe of usual construction being attached to the under side of this casting.

By the construction herein described it will ICO thrown into and out of gear, and that the pole and finger-bar can be readily elevated or depressed by adj usting the levers which are connected thereto. It will also be noticed that the main-frame brackets between which the movable portions of the machine are pivoted form supports for the drivers seat, and their connections, as herein described and set forth, are all formed integral with the main frame, and that by this construction the parts cannot become loosened by wear of the continual jar to which this class of machines is subject, and that, no matter how great the strain upon the machine, the operating parts cannot be forced out of line.

I claim In a mowing-machine, the combination,with the frame having the portion A and vertical guide or keeper L, cast integral therewith, of a draft-pole secured pivotally to said frame in rear of the keeper and passing forward through said keeper, and devices, substantially such as indicated, for moving the body relative to said pole, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY B. GARTON, THOMAS K. LANIER. 

